[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/municipal-ordinances-vs-crimes-in-new-jersey\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/municipal-ordinances-vs-crimes-in-new-jersey\/","headline":"Municipal Ordinances vs. Crimes in New Jersey","name":"Municipal Ordinances vs. Crimes in New Jersey","description":"Offenses in New Jersey Municipal Courts If you have recently been accused of violating a municipal ordinance in New Jersey, you may be worried about how to handle the case, whether you have been accused of committing a crime, what the potential consequences to your life are, and if you should hire a lawyer to […]","datePublished":"2018-08-08","dateModified":"2024-09-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/author\/newjerseycriminallawfirm\/#Person","name":"William Proetta Criminal Law","url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/author\/newjerseycriminallawfirm\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bf046e483cfd218aa23b814afd7f502ea8e6bd244632161b6e42395a76e91a8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bf046e483cfd218aa23b814afd7f502ea8e6bd244632161b6e42395a76e91a8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"William Proetta Criminal Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/william-proetta-criminal-law-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/william-proetta-criminal-law-logo.png","width":250,"height":76}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/municipal-court.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/municipal-court.jpg","height":299,"width":450},"url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/municipal-ordinances-vs-crimes-in-new-jersey\/","about":["Criminal Case Issues"],"wordCount":699,"articleBody":"Offenses in New Jersey Municipal CourtsIf you have recently been accused of violating a municipal ordinance in New Jersey, you may be worried about how to handle the case, whether you have been accused of committing a crime, what the potential consequences to your life are, and if you should hire a lawyer to defend you. Also, you may have heard that some criminal charges can be converted to municipal ordinances and be wondering if this is applies to your case. If you have an upcoming appearance in New Jersey Municipal Court, it is crucial to understand what your case means in the eyes of the law. As experienced criminal defense attorneys, we at\u00a0William Proetta Criminal Law\u00a0have dedicated our careers to defending clients facing charges in Edison, New Brunswick, Piscataway, East Brunswick, Metuchen, Woodbridge, and throughout New Jersey. To learn more about municipal ordinances vs. crimes in NJ, please read the information below and feel free to contact our Edison office at (732) 659-9600 to speak with an attorney about your case.NJ Municipal Ordinances vs. Criminal OffensesIn New Jersey, people are subject to federal laws, state laws, and municipal ordinances, which are enacted by local municipalities. Only\u00a0indictable offenses\u00a0under state law are considered \u201ccrimes\u201d in New Jersey. Indictable offenses carry the potential for over 6 months imprisonment and give the accused a right to an indictment by grand jury and a right to a jury trial.\u00a0Lesser offenses called\u00a0disorderly persons offenses\u00a0are the equivalent of criminal misdemeanors in other states. Violations of municipal ordinances are not crimes under New Jersey law.If you are issued a summons for a municipal ordinance or disorderly persons offense, your case will be heard at the municipal court in the municipality where the alleged violation occurred. You will receive a summons with the date, time, and location of your hearing. You will not have a right to a jury trial but will have your case heard by the presiding municipal court judge. Although they are handled in the same court, the main difference between disorderly persons offenses and municipal ordinance violations is that convictions for disorderly persons offenses create a\u00a0criminal record\u00a0and municipal ordinance violations do not.Charged with a Disorderly Persons Offense or Ordinance Violation?It is very important to be clear about whether you have been charged with a disorderly persons offense or a municipal ordinance violation. While municipal ordinance violations typically only carry the punishment of a fine, disorderly persons offenses can carry jail time and a criminal record, which can negatively impact job prospects and other areas of life. It is not uncommon for individuals to be confused about what type of offense or violation they have been accused of. Determining whether you have been accused of a municipal ordinance violation or a disorderly persons offense is very important in order to assess the potential penalties you are facing and your best defense strategy.Sometimes, through negotiation with the prosecutor, it is possible for a disorderly persons offense or even a fourth degree crime to be downgraded to a municipal ordinance violation, thereby avoiding the creation of a criminal record. For example, a criminal charge for\u00a0disorderly conduct\u00a0may be downgraded to an ordinance to help you keep your record clean. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can evaluate your case to determine if there is potential for downgrading the charges. Here are a few examples of cases in which we successfully had criminal charges downgraded to ordinances:NJ Assault Charges Downgraded to OrdinanceEdison Marijuana Possession Downgraded to Township OrdinancesForgery, Prescription Drugs & Receiving Stolen Property Downgraded to Ordinance4th Degree felony Fake ID downgraded to ordinance for Rutgers StudentMunicipal Court Defense Lawyers Serving Edison, New Brunswick, Piscataway, and Middlesex County NJIf you have been charged with a criminal offense or are unsure how to handle a violation in municipal court, you should absolutely speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer about your specific situation. Depending on the alleged offense, you may be facing jail time, significant fines, and a criminal record.\u00a0For a\u00a0free consultation\u00a0with a lawyer who can help with your case, contact us anytime at\u00a0(732) 659-9600."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Municipal Ordinances vs. Crimes in New Jersey","item":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/municipal-ordinances-vs-crimes-in-new-jersey\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]